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OPINION

It’s time: Minnesota businesses are committed to safely re-opening

The past few months have been extremely difficult for every one of us, our families and our communities. As a business owner, I’m part of our economic engine in St. Cloud; before the coronavirus I employed over 100 people at my three bar/restaurants in the area and that responsibility is great.

When the governor had to make the tough decision to close businesses in our state, I understood, because the safety of our employees and our customers is always my number one priority.

However, after nearly two months, we need to start balancing all of the health factors that have been hit by coronavirus, including our mental and economic health. Like so many other small business owners, I worry every day about my employees and their ability to provide for those closest to them.

It’s time to allow small businesses to help our communities come back to life. I’m committed to doing it safely and I know others are as well.

Last week, I participated in a press conference at the state capitol with other business owners to express our concerns about Minnesota’s continued stay-at-home order and the devastating impact it’s having on the small business community.

As the proud owner/partner of Pioneer Place on Fifth, 7 West Tap House and Boulder Tap House in St. Cloud, it was important for me to join legislators and fellow owners to share our stories. Minnesota’s political leaders should trust us to safely re-open our businesses and take care of our customers with the necessary health precautions and guidelines.

We need to re-open our doors as soon as possible, and I fear that those doors may never open again for other small employers across the state.

It’s crucial for our political leaders to hear our concerns and suggestions for re-opening Minnesota, and how we can get people back to work. I worry that if we don’t do this soon, rural Minnesota small businesses won’t be able to recover compared to those in the Twin Cities.

There are steps we all can and will take for the safety of our families and communities.

This is why I stood with Senate Republicans last week to urge the governor to put forth a comprehensive plan to help guide us into the future and allow businesses like mine to do our part and survive. Sen. Jerry Relph understands the help we need, and I’ll continue working with him and others in St. Paul to get it done responsibly.

We’ve all had to sacrifice some aspect of our lives to slow the spread of coronavirus, and I’m proud of my fellow Minnesotans in their efforts to do just that. It’s going to take all of us, working together, to help rebuild.

It’s my hope that once we re-open, all of us will come together in a collective effort to keep businesses like mine alive so we can continue being the economic engine our communities need.